Robber cop wanted in 20 cases arrested after 7 years

The special task force (west) of the Uttar Pradesh police have arrested an ex-policeman of the Delhi Police who was wanted in 20 cases of robbery and the Arms Act, after a brief encounter. A reward of Rs 50,000 was also declared on him.

The special task force (west) of the Uttar Pradesh police have arrested an ex-policeman of the Delhi Police who was wanted in 20 cases of robbery and the Arms Act, after a brief encounter. A reward of Rs 50,000 was also declared on him.

The accused, identified as Devender Singh, was expelled from the Delhi Police in 2002 after he robbed a jeweller in Ghaziabad. The police said he had been absconding for seven years.

“Intelligence inputs suggested that Devender would be visiting to Ghaziabad. A team of the STF led by DSP Raj Kumar Mishra laid a trap near Shastri Nagar area on Sunday with the help of the local police. The accused was spotted walking in the area. When asked to surrender, he fired two rounds and tried to escape. However, the police team responded and surrounded him,” said Ajay Sahdev, additional SP, STF (west).

The police said they had recovered a .32 bore pistol and many cartridges from his possession.

“He always dreamt of being rich and started robbing people to earn money quickly. The first case of robbery was reported against him in 1997. Then in 1998 he again robbed some persons. After these cases, he was suspended. He was reinstated in 2001 and sent to the security department,” Sahdev added.

However, after a year, Devender allegedly formed a gang that started robbing people. In 2002, he was accused of robbing a bank in Ghaziabad.

“A reward of Rs 50,000 was declared on him. He changed his identity and fled to Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh. He has been to many places in the past seven years and tried different things to start a business. In 2009, he robbed a jeweller in Shastri Nagar area of Ghaziabad,” Sahdev said.

The police said he only picked banks, businessmen and jewellers as targets. While he was absconding, he also tried his hand at smuggling of liquor and contraband.